August 11, 2020
#the_world
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
1. Yes, the world, and not just the Jews, but both Jews and Gentiles of the world. The Jews have a big problem, thinking they alone were loved by God.
- Rev 5:9 'And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.' See Rev 7:9 too.
- The 'world' embraces men 'out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.' That's the distributive sense of the word; it is not exhaustive, all and every man without distinction.
2. The ‘world’ that God so loved, is also the ‘world’ that God gave His only begotten Son to save; no more no less.
- Those that God so loved are also those whom God gave His only begotten Son to secure everlasting life.
- There is the world that God so loved and gave His Son to save it (Jn 1:29, 3:16), and there is the world that Jesus did not love nor pray for (Jn 17:9), there is a world that is in enmity against God (James 4:4). Know the different worlds!
- But the word 'world' also indicates their spiritual condition - a 'world' that lies in death and condemnation because of sins. That's the ethical sense of the word 'world'. His love was shown to such, of the world in iniquity, and enmity against him. Rm 5:10.
- 'World' cannot possibly refer to all men of the world; that's a fable, and a lie.
- God gave His Son to save His people; that's His explicit will and Christ understood it perfectly. Christ declared, 'For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.' John 6:38-39
- Jn 17:9 ‘I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.’
- Christ came to save His people; God sent Him to save them. “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” Jn 17:2.
- ‘As many as’ means "an exact number, not one more and not one less!" A little boy can understand that.
Learn the gospel truths, and renounce Christ-dishonouring lies and fables.
